Jesus has to empowered those who are willing to minister in his name, but like Jesus, we will face hostility. And we will face failure.
However, Jesus gives us the freedom to move on and to know when to quit. There are times in our life and the life of church when we say “enough is enough,” and move on to another mission, just as Jesus moved on to different towns during his ministry.
Persisting even when the evidence is counter-productive is called hubris. We may begin to resent what we do, whether it’s lead a committee, teach Sunday School or minister to the undocumented. But Jesus tells us it’s OK to move on, because the success or failure of ministry is not entirely ours to determine.
In our mission work, sometimes we’ll have success and sometimes we’ll fail. But success or failure does not make us who we are.
“Won’t Nothing Bring You Down Like Your Hometown”
Sermon by The Rev. Joe Gunby
Mark 6:1-13
July 8, 2018